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Greenville Drive

Drive end road trip with 5-4 loss

July 20, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Eastlake, OH - The Drive (51-41, 12-12) will return home to Fluor Field fresh off a 5-3 record on their recent eight-game road trip. However, the successful trek north ended on a sour note as Greenville lost 5-4 Tuesday night to the Lake County Captains (43-49, 12-13) in 11 innings.

After falling behind 3-0 through three innings, the Drive worked a comeback with a four-run fifth inning. Pete Hissey walked, and Jon Hee and Jeremy Hazelbaker each singled to leadoff the frame, loading the bases before Zach Gentile laced a two-run double.

Ryan Lavarnway's sacrifice fly tied the game, and when Kade Keowen grounded into a double play, Greenville garnered their first and only lead of the game.

It did not take the Captains long to tie the game, answering in the home half of the fifth. Drive starter Hunter Strickland retired the first two batters of the inning, but then ran into trouble as Donnie Webb singled, stole second, and scored on Nate Recknagel's base hit.

Strickland lasted five innings, surrendering four runs - three earned - on five hits and three walks, while fanning a pair of Lake County hitters before giving way to the bullpen. Right-hander Jeremy Kehrt replaced Strickland, holding the Captains at bay for five scoreless frames.

It wasn't until the 11th inning that a team decided to score a run, and bring a close to the game. Unfortunately for the Drive, it was the Captains who garnered a walk-off victory.

Reliever Leandro Marin (1-1) struckout the first two batters, making it appear as if the game would go to the 12th inning. But the speedy Webb legged out an infield single, and scored the game-winning run on a Recknagel double.

The fifth pitcher of the night for the Captains, Francisco Jimenez (2-0), tossed a perfect top of the 11th in which he struckout one batter to earn the win. Lake County's bullpen combined for 10 strikeouts, and yielded just two hits in seven scoreless innings.

After an off day on Tuesday, the Drive return home to Fluor Field on Wednesday with first pitch set for 7:05 PM. The eight-game homestand will feature the Delmarva Shorebirds and the first half Northern Division Champion Lakewood BlueClaws.

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